After SpaceX’s nearly $2.3 billion contract to build the Space Data Network Backbone, the Space Force plans to request nearly $1.5 billion for the network in a future fiscal 2027 reconciliation bill. Defense Daily reporter Frank Wolfe looks at the Space Force’s fiscal 2027 research and development budget request and how it will impact the SDN Backbone. 

After SpaceX’s SDN Backbone award, the company received another massive Space Force award. This time, nearly $4.2 billion for initial fielding of the Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indicator (SB-AMTI) system. This initial award is projected to field a constellation of satellites by 2028. 

Also in this edition, BlackSky secured an award from the NRO this week that will support the development of its AROS multi-spectral, broad area Earth Observation satellites.

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